Convincing evidence demonstrates that the PSA test often produces false-positive results (approximately 80% of positive PSA test results are false-positive when cutoffs between 2.5 and 4.0 μg/L are used) (4). There is adequate evidence that false-positive PSA test results are associated with negative psychological effects, including persistent worry about prostate cancer. Men who have a false-positive test result are more likely to have additional testing, including 1 or more biopsies, in the following year than those who have a negative test result (5). Over 10 years, approximately 15% to 20% of men will have a PSA test result that triggers a biopsy, depending on the PSA threshold and testing interval used (4). New evidence from a randomized trial of treatment of screen-detected cancer indicates that roughly one third of men who have prostate biopsy experience pain, fever, bleeding, infection, transient urinary difficulties, or other issues requiring clinician follow-up that the men consider a “moderate or major problem”; approximately 1% require hospitalization (6).

The USPSTF considered the magnitude of these harms associated with screening and diagnostic procedures to be at least small.

Bruce Stambaugh With my family history (my father died of prostate cancer, and my older brother had the da Vinci surgery to remove his cancerous prostate 18 months before I had the same surgery), the PSA was essential in monitoring my cancer. I wanted the cancer out of my body before it spread to the bones and other areas. Without the regular PSA tests, which despite the committees assertions were not harmful, I could only guess if I had cancer or not. I wanted to know and because my good doctors and I charted the best course for me, I can live a good long life without the fear of this cancer. I chose life over an eventual miserable death. Did the urologist and hospital make money. Absolutely. But I am alive and very thankful for that and the doctors’ good care.

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Bruce Stambaugh The second paragraph of the recommendations shows just how hypocritical the report is. “This recommendation does not include the use of the PSA test for surveillance after diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer; the use of the PSA test for this indication is outside the scope of the USPSTF.” Now, if they recommend that you should get the test, how in the world do they expect surveillance to be done? All I know is that, given my family history, I am very, very glad my PSA was watched closely. Why would I want to forgo eliminating a cancer in my body when I know it will eventually spread, shortening my life. The da Vinci surgery gave me my life back. I wonder if any of the people on the panel ever had prostate cancer or had a loved one who had it. This is a giant blow to common sense medical care.

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Tami Bowen Spence My husband was symptomless yet during routine screening he was found to have an elevated PSA. 2 weeks later after a biopsy, we were told he had a highly aggressive PCa with a Gleason score of 8. His doctors encouraged immediate treatment. He is 49. He had no family history of this disease. This new recommendation is very risky.

The PSA test saved my husbands life. That test prevented my children’s father from being taken from them far too young. Is this group saying that my husband’s life is insignificant? Does his life not count for anything? I am left to wonder what this is really all about. To say that this test rarely or never saves lives is a downright lie.

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Rose Valvano Davis My husband age 60 also was symptomless when his doctor did a PSA. His # were 5.4 when they did a biopsy. He had aggressive PC with a Gleason score of 7. After robotic removal of his Prostate they said there was more cancer then they thought. Thank God it was still contained. But I believe if it wasen’t for his doc ordering a PSA my husbands cancer would have spread. I have told his Doc that he saved my husbands life.

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Rikki Lynn Rios-Robinson Clearly, an intermediate cancer of 4 + 3 at the age of 45 will cause major problems for most men. My husband had no symptoms but asked for a PSA anyway. Thinking it would show nothing, it acutally revealed a 17.2 PSA. After ruling out BPH and infection, a biopsy revealed cancer. From what I understand, the test isn’t too expensive to begin with. Why not get a baseline at age 40 and follow up every few years if PSA is within normal range. If it is not within normal range, follow protocol to see what could be causing an increase to first rule out BPH, or other type of infection. If once other infections are ruled out, and the PSA is elevated, go to biopsy. From there, if positive and cancer is indeed a low grade, don’t rush to treatment, rather educate. If the cancer is an intermediate risk, or bordering on high risk, and you are young(er), it has to be dealt with.

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Trey Velasco I am a survivor of testicular cancer at the young age of 20 years old and my urologist routinely checked my PSA levels. After a PSA level around 4.9 for a period of a year and two biopsies with a Gleason score of 6 and 7, I was advised by my doctors to remove my prostate. Given my history of cancer and being a fairly young man (43) I underwent a radical prostatectomy having the robotic surgery a few weeks back. I was told it was a matter of it being a time bomb if I were to elect a wait and see approach. I didn’t want to play Russian Roulette with my life given my history. Awaiting the full biopsy report. PSA testing needs to be implemented at an earlier age.

Sharon Smock My husband had no specific symptoms of prostate cancer – first PSA at age 53 came back at 174, revealing a Gleason 9/10 cancer. It is hard not to wish his doctor had discussed PSA testing much earlier. Ignorance is definitely not bliss!

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Donald Ezrin As I have stated in previous posts on this site, tell it to my 2 dear friends who have died in the last 2 years, in their early 50’s from this disease as they never did a psa test until overt symptoms manifested themselves, and by that time it was to late to save either one of them. TEST EARLY, STARTING AT AGE 40, TEST YEARLY, AND IF THE PSA COMES BACK ABNORMAL, RESEARCH, GET EDUCATED, GET A SECOND OPINION, AND MAKE YOUR CHOICES THAT BEST INFLUENCES YOUR LIFE AND PERSONAL SITUATION. NO ONE CHOICE IS RIGHT FOR ALL PATIENTS. THE PSA TEST COST 120 DOLLARS IF YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. ISN’T YOUR LIFE WORTH THAT MUCH?

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Karen Smith Rawls These recommendations state that the low numbers of mortality that the PSA screening affects is not worth it. Maybe if it was their husband or father they would think twice about that. Fortunately,my husbands physician started screening him at age 49. His PSA was a little on the high side, so we continued monitoring it. After it continued increasing biopsys were done. He ended up having a Gleason score of 9 and it was in the margins. Surgery, radiation, and Lupron. It hasn’t been an easy road, but he is still here with us. This cancer does kill men and you can’t just stick your head in the sand and ignore it. Unless they come up with another test that does a better job, you can’t just cast aside the PSA. The families of these men need them.

Anita Nelson Chitty If early testing can save even ONE single life, where does the argument lie?? I have yet to hear a single argument against routine mammograms for women, or earlier than usual mammograms for those with a family history! It’s the ignorance of the medical small minded medical professionals that anger me the most!! After my husband was diagnosed at 57, having lost his father to an aggressive form of PC, our 34 year old son asked to be tested and his doctor looked at him as if he were crazy!!! Something is terribly wrong with the picture!!!!!

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Kathy Malik Meade-Goulait African Americans, men with a family history, veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and men with an elevated PSA at baseline in their 40s are at high risk of developing prostate cancer, but these groups were ignored in USPSTF’s recommendation against the use of PSA screening.

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Joe Dunlap This task force is bogus. If it wasn’t for PSA I would have been dead and I’m 48. If one of the task force membere or a member of their family was diagnosed….

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Jim Hambleton It was an elevated PSA that led to the detection of my cancer. Without it, I would likely be metastasized by now.

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Joe Dunlap Are they seriously trying to put a value on a single human life?

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Joe Dunlap They have the same attitudes toward mammograms. Well, not sure if it is this task force but I read it.

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Ed Wakeley I had a psa of 5.2 with a Gleason of 6 at surgery. Post op pathology revealed 7 separate tumors. 2 were 1/2″ x 1/2″. 1 tumor was a 7. I was 50…i believe that much “low grade” cancer would have killed me. I was also in a psa monitoring program for 4 years due to family history and rising psa. I think it worked for me.

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Claudia Lee Robert Dr.Besser on ABC World News emphasized the genetic background of PCa vs the PSA. Nothing about the 1 in 6 who die. This report and world news is one of the reasons we can not get the creditable word out.

Mari Small It’s truly amazing that medical ‘experts’, in an age when we espouse preventative medicine, vote against what can save lives. It’s not a numbers game. But it seems none of them are victims of the disease, and they are too shortsighted to think that what they espouse today will also affect their sons and grandsons. Knowing firsthand that prostate cancer affects men in their 40’s – not only in elder ages, what could possibly excuse withholding the opportunity to know and be treated? Until it touches THEIR lives intimately, it’s easy to levy critically risky mandates.

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Skip Nunnally PSA test and surgery saved my life 11 1/2 yrs ago. this group is nuts. let them get cancer and see their thoughts then.

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Brian Williams Absolutely horrible process but what will you do to live a few more years? To ignore that exam and the process because it is unpleasant is suicide. If this will help me see my grand daughters get married one day, I’ll do it twice.

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Keith Rose I was a Gleason 6 at diagnosis and the ripe old age of 45. I was given 2 choices as most are my age. I elected for removal and was told after removal that it was much worse then first thought. Gleason 8 and over 10 percent infected. Even if the psa test is not perfect it is better then nothing. In my case if it wasn’t for the test I would have never know as I had no symptoms and that monster was already well on its way to becoming a problem. Very grateful to the test and all my doctors.

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Donna Crider Lee My husband was diagnosed last year. His employment place gives physicals, including PSA. His Gleason is 3+4=7, PSA 33. Surgery not an option, prostate fully involved, but contained. He has been on Lupron for 4 months, 21 radiation down, 21 to go. He is 48, and always been very healthy. It scares me to think how much worse it could have been! Thank God he had a PSA test. And I will continue to spread the word!

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Bill Harvel men in their 40’s and 50’s should not be dying from prostate cancer…rather than take this away from us as the only reliable test, why not put the resources into finding a test to determine which cancers are aggressive and life threatening, and those that will not be??? NO ONE should be able to tell me that the test that saved my life is now not recommended for my son!!! he will be tested…arent these the same people who originally said yearly mammograms were not needed, and now they are credited with a 95% cure rate when caught early by a test?..please…

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Abraham Papi Bren May I say…Mr President, doctors and politicians. PSA test saved my life 3 years ago. I made the decision of surgery. Now it saved my life AGAIN when in a routine check doctors found cancer has spread and stronger than the first time. I’m on my 5th week of radiation. Quality of life is 0. I cant work, Im broke, in pain and depressed. But thanks to this test IM ALIVE !! #uhave2binmyshoes